The possible effect of whole body exposure of mice to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the in vitro ability of cultured Leydig cells to synthesize steroid hormones should be evaluated.
In four replicate experiments, 10-13 mice were exposed to a 50 Hz, 100 µT magnetic field for a period of 14 days while the same amount was sham exposed, respectively. At the end of the exposure, Leydig cells were isolated from the testes of all test animals and cultured for 48 h in the presence or absence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG promotes testosterone production in Leydig cells and was used to check the ability to synthesize steroid hormones of exposed and sham-exposed samples.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
23.5 h/day for 14 days
|
|
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Waveform | |
| Exposure duration | 23.5 h/day for 14 days |
| Additional info | field vertically oriented |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Setup | pair of double-wound coils with an inner diameter of 42 cm, embedded in molded epoxy resin, mounted horizontally 32 cm apart, above and below the mouse cage |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 100 µT | effective value | measured | - | - |
In cell cultures obtained from exposed animals, the hCG-stimulated testosterone response was significantly higher compared to the sham exposed controls. In cell cultures without hCG, no effect of exposure on the testosterone level could be observed.
For the level of serum testosterone as well as histological analysis, blood parameters and body weight no differences could be found between samples of exposed and sham exposed animals.
The authors conclude that a whole body exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field has an effect on the hCG-stimulated synthesis of steroid hormones in in vitro cultivated mouse Leydig cells.
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